Afghan cricket team off to Sri Lanka

KABUL (Pajhwok): Led by its captain Mohammad Nabi, the national cricket team on Thursday left for Sari Lanka to attend a month-long training camp there ahead of the ICC Asia Cup and the World Twenty-20 Cup in Bangladesh.

Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) spokesman Farid Hotak said the side would play warm-up matches with Sri Lankan local clubs as part of the training session.

He said Indian and Sari Lankan coaches would be available to train the Afghans in all departments of the game.

ACB chairman Shazada Massoud stressed the players should to pay full attention to their training and strive hard to learn maximum.

ACB chief executive Dr. Noor Mohammad Murad said the board had been striving to arrange training opportunities for the players outside and inside the country.

He said the team represented the nation to the international world, therefore they should try to boost the country’s image.

Selectors on Wednesday announced 20 probables for the ICC Asia Cup and the World Twenty20 Cup, saying they had been picked, keeping in view their ability and form.

Hotak said the final 15-member squad for the two mega events would be named after the end of the training camp in Sari Lanka.

Bangladesh will host the Asia Cup in Feb-March and the ICC World Twenty-20, despite a political turmoil in the country.

Afghanistan were given an opportunity to compete with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the tournament, taking the number of matches to eleven.

For Afghanistan, the Asia Cup would be great exposure before the T20 World Cup and the 2015 World Cup.